HOLDING A JOB

[stormy]

<span style='font-size:11pt;line-height:100%'>HOLDING A JOB</span>

Some people still don't understand why military personnel do what they do for a living.

This exchange of words between Senators John Glenn and Sen. Howard Metzenbaum is worth reading.

Not only is it a pretty impressive impromptu speech, but it's also a good example of one man's explanation of why men and women in the Armed Services do what they do for a living.

This IS a typical, though sad, example of what those who have never served think of the Military.

Senator Metzenbaum to Senator Glenn: &quot;How can you run for Senate when you've never held a &quot;real job?&quot;
Senator Glenn: &quot;I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps. *I served through two wars. * I flew 149 missions.
My plane was hit by antiaircraft fire on 12 different occasions. * I was in the space program.
It wasn't my checkbook; it was my Life on the line.
It was not a nine to five job where I took time off to take the daily cash receipts to the bank.

I ask you to go with me ... as I went the other day to a Veteran's Hospital and look at those men with their mangled bodies in the eye and tell them they didn't hold a job.

You go with me to the space program and go as I have gone to the widows and orphans of Ed White and Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee and you look those kids in the eye and tell them that their dad didn't hold a job.

You go with me on Memorial Day and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends than I'd like to remember and you watch those waving flags.
You stand there, and you think about this nation, and you tell me that those people didn't have a job.

I'll tell you, Howard Metzenbaum, you should be on your knees every day of your life thanking God that there were some men - SOME MEN - who held a job.
And they required a dedication to purpose and a love of country and a dedication to duty that was more important than life itself.

And their self-sacrifice is what made this country possible.
&quot;I HAVE HELD A JOB, HOWARD! --- &quot;What about you?&quot;

For those who don't remember -
* * * During W.W.II, Howard Metzenbaum was an attorney representing the Communist Party USA.

[lovingarmywife]

Thanks for sharing that, Stormy. Of course, I'm shaking with anger though. When did this occur?

[pRIMrose]

Thanks for sharing this stormy. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/twothumbsup.gif IMO, military is the number one most important job in this country. Without our brave men and women where would we be?

[Jeff]

As I recall, from my days in service with the USAF, mostly overseas, and at times, in harm's way, that it was a job. A real job. A real job that meant something and resulted in true growth, continued peace, and contributed in some small way to the betterment of mankind. I was proud and happy to do that job and I pray my service was honorable and a positive reflection on my country and our mainstream values. Though we may have political differences, John Glenn is a bona fide American hero and a fine man. He, and men of his ilk, did much for this country and if that's not a real job, what is?

As much as I would like to say something base to ol' Howard, I will instead offer prayers that God will do whatever is necessary to knock some sense into that man's head and show him the light. God's much better at that than I am anyway..... http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[NWGOPMom]

Stormy, thanks for the post. It really is important for people to understand just how hard our service people &quot;work&quot; for this country to maintain and protect our freedoms. Their job is much more &quot;real&quot; than any of us could ever hope to have.

[stormy]

Quote[/b] ]Thanks for sharing that, Stormy. Of course, I'm shaking with anger though. When did this occur?

You're welcome, LAW, and all the rest of you Since John Glenn is already retired from the senate, I can't say when it happened since I don't know how many years he served in the senate. But, I bet there are some on the forum who will know the answer to that question. Hopefully, they will read and reply.

Stormy

[Der Alte]

Thanks, Stormy. Glad to see what Glenn told the ***hole. I may not have had a real job but I put in some ungodly hours. My first tour in Korea was during the last 6 months of the war and we worked 16-18 hours a day, 7 days a week for the entire 6 months. We had forgotten what time off was and during that time we got about 3 showers, an occasional shave and no haircuts. At the end of the war we had a party with 3 bottles of beer for each man and got one day off. Later in my 24 year career, working with the Office of Special Investigations, you never knew what time you would start work and surely not when you would finish - it was nothing to get called out any time of night or early morning. Most of those I worked with never said anything about the long hours, they were just interested in doing their job.